Indrawati National Park

The renowned wildlife park of Chhatisgarh, Indravati National Park is located in Dantewada district. Indravati River flows across the park and forms its northern boundary. Indrawati

became a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under the famous Project Tiger of India. The park houses a variety of wildlife and endangered species such as Wild Buffaloes and Hill Mynas. Indrawati is blessed with lush green vegetations and a diverse wildlife park. A varied wildlife is found here ranging from Barasinghas, tigers and Monkeys, porcupines of flying

squirrels. The best time to visit the park is from 15th December and 15th June.

Periyar

Periyar National park is spread across 777 sq km in the Western Ghat mountain ranges in Idukki District. The park has a dam Mullaperiyar built on river Periyar which is now a large lake spread in 26 sq. km. area. Boating is carried out in the lake which is the best way to encounter wildlife from the closest. Trekking is also arranged for near the boat landing. The park comprises of 62 species of mammals and a variety of endangered species like the flying squirrel, wild dog, gaur,elephant, leopard, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer and wild boar. Best time to visit the park is either between April-June or July-August.

Kaziranga

Situated in the Golaghat District and Nagaon District of Assam, Kaziranga is the oldest national

park of Assam. Spread across an area of 430 sq km, Brahmaputra flows across its north and Karbi Anglong hills surround the south. This park is a world heritage site and is well known for the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros. The thick forests of Kaziranga the tall elephant grass and shallow water pools are parts of its landscape. Declared as a national park in 1974, it provides

tourists with facilities like elephant rides or a cruise in a boat on the Brahmaputra River along the park. The best time to visit the park is from November to April.

Kalakad-Mundathurai

Situated in Agasthyamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kalakad -Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve(KMTR) was declared so in 1882. This park is known for its rare plants and endangered wildlife. Spread across 665 sq km, it has dry forests in the foothills and wet forests on higher altitudes. The wildlife here comprises of Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Slender Loris, Lion tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin. Best time to visit Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is between the months of September and January.

Nameri National Park

Situated 35 km from Tezpur, in the foothills of Himalayas, Nameri National Park is spread across 200 sq. km. The river Jia Bhoroli flows through it the decisuous forests of the park. This park was declared as a sanctuary on 18th September 1985 and a National Park on 15th November 1998. Nameri has a wide variety of wildlife species which range from Tiger, Black bear, elephant, Leopard, deer, jackals to a varied species of birds such as the white winged wood duck, four species of Hornbill, butterflies and reptiles are also found here. The best time to visit the park is in the months of November and May.

Tiger Reserve Tour India

Panna National Park

Panna Tiger Reserve spreads over Panna and Chhatarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh. Created in 1981, it was the 22nd national park in the state and 5th in the state. This reserve has bits of Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary created in 1975. Dry and short grass terrains support Blue Bull and Chinkara wildlife.Porcupine, Hare, Rusty Spotted Cat, Hyena, Wolf, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Sambhar, Jungle Cat, Chital, Chausinga, Nilgai, Wild Dog, Chinkara, Jungle Cat and Tiger are some of the wildlife you may encounter in the park. Best time to visit this park will be between the months of mid-May.

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is situated in Mandla/Balaghat districts Madhya Pradesh. A horse shoe shaped valley with Mekal ranges is spread across 940 sq km. Kanha boasts of one of the largest populations of tigers. Other rare species spotted here are sloth bear, leopard and striped hyena, spotted dear, wild boar, jungle cat, jackal and a variety of monkeys. 200 species of birds are also found here. From 16th October, 2009 Madhya Pradesh national Parks will re-open as per schedule.

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park is located in Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka. This park is bestowed with a moderate climate and varied geographical features. Due to great weather an amazingly wide variety of flora and fauna thrives in this park. Bandipur was one of the first Tiger

Reserves of India. Formed in 1973 under Project Tiger, the ideal time to visit the park is in the

months of April and October. Besides tiger, gaur (a type of bull), sambar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, Malabar squirrel, porcupines and the black-knapped hare and birds like jungle fowl and green pigeon are also found here.

Manas National Park

Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and a part extended in Bhutan, Manas National Park has been declared as a World Heritage site in 1985. Manas, one of the two Tiger Reserves of Assam is also famous for its Elephants and Rhinos. The picturesque splendor and exceptional riches of wild life merge with this distinctive world heritage site to tender one of the most absorbing experiences. Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Golden Langur, Capped Langur, Elephant, Wild Buffalo, Gaur, etc. is some species of wildlife found here. The best time to visit the park is in between November and April.

Sunderbans

Affirmed in 1973 as a tiger reserve, Sunderbans are in West Bengal. It became a National Park in 1984. The park is named after the large mangrove trees which are available in plenty. The key attraction of this park is the Royal Bengal Tiger. Other species of mammals found here are fishing cat, chital, wild boar, water monitor and crocodile. The best time to visit this place is between December and February.

Tiger Reserve in India part

Corbett Wildlife Conservation

The oldest park in India, this reserve has been renamed thrice before it finally was known as Corbett National Park in 1955. The initial vicinity of the Park was 323.75 sq. km. to which 197.07

sq. km. was added later. After an addition of buffer area of 797.72 sq. km took place in 1991. The best time to visit the Park is between the

months of November 15 to June 15. Corbett generally remains closed in the monsoon months between June 16 and November 14.

Bandhavgarh Wildlife Conservation

Bandhavgarh national Park was Founded in 1965. This 343 sq km wide park has been a hunting ground for the Maharajas in the past. In 1993 Bandhav garh became part of Project tiger

network. The adjoining Panpatha sanctuary, which was crated in 1993 with an area of 245.847 sq km was also declared a part of the Reserve. The best time visit the park is between mid-

November to June.

Ranthambore Wildlife Conservation

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve was one of the first nine Tiger Reserves declared in 1973 at the

launch of Project Tiger in India. The Park sprawls over an estimated area of 400 sq kms. This sanctuary is also known for spotted deer or chital, barking deer, sambar or Muntjac, Chausinga or Four-horned antilope, Nilgai or Blue bull, Indian Gazel or chinkara and Tiger, wild dog, Leopard or Dhole, Wolf. Scavengers consist of Hyena, jackal, common langur, sloth bear, wild boar, Rhesus monkey etc.

Sariska Wildlife Conservation

This park was created in 1978 and is spread over 866 sq km. Post - independence, in the year

1955, this was first notified as a Reserve wherein it was unlawful to hunt, shoot, net, trap, snare,

capture or kill any kind of wild animals. The Reserve became a sanctuary in 1958. The park is a habitat to several carnivores including Jungle Cat, Jackal, Hyena, Leopard, Wild Dog and Tiger. It is also home to a huge species of birds.

Pench National Park

The Pench River that flows through Pench Tiger Reserve gives it its name. The park is located in

the southern limits of Satpura hills in Madhya Pradesh. The rugged terrains are covered with mountains and the prey concentration is mainly across the Pench River where tigers inhabit. The total area of the reserve is 757.86 sq. km. 55 species of tigers, 39 species of reptiles and over 210 species of birds found here have been listed.

Wildlife Tourism in India

Approximately 4% of the total Indian land is forests in which 90 forests are national parks and 482 wildlife sanctuaries. According to statistics, India has 60-70% world's bio diversity.

In Indian forests you will find a variety of wildlife. From Asian Elephants to Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros and Leopard, you will find all of them here. There are hundreds of bird species and it is one of the best places for bird watching.

Some National parks like Jim Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal), Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Gir National Park in Sasangir (Gujarat), Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur are rich in bird species.

History of Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife Tourism

Way back in 1973, Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore and Sariska were launched as national parks. In the year 2000, September 24th, a need arises for the departments of forest, transport, fisheries and tourism to co-ordinate their resources. But for India it still looks like a dream. Despite of chaotic management, in Dec 2004 Dec 24th,tourism saw growth due to availability of fantastic locales which were perfect to attract tourists from worldwide. In 2002, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation entered into a partnership with Indian Tourism Development Corporation development of tourism in Kerala.This included that sites for water sports, wildlife tourism, backwater holidays and mountain activities be identified. An year later in October India has more number of tourist pouring in to visit the national parks. The industry by now had started sustaining a substantial amount of people.The recent news is that Taj Hotels have entered into a treaty with ConservationCorporation Africa to promote wildlife tourism in India.

Present Situation of Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife Tourism in India

In India wildlife tourism industry in one of the most progressive. In 2006 talks of having policies to align wildlife in the country were in circulation. They wanted to assign this to think tanks which could help adopt the African Safari Model. By 2007, eco tourism was a properly introduced concept, which gained momentum but marketing of wildlife tourism was even then done poorly. The ways were unscientific and unsystematic. The wildlife is abundant in the country but still there are improper mans to exploit their real potential.